Top area boys in Class 5 District 10 and 12

Skyler Baker, Willard, jr. - Playing his first year on the Willard varsity, Baker will be counted on heavily as an inside-outside threat. He can get to the basket, which will add a dimension on offense for the Tigers.

Charlie Brown, Joplin, jr. - One of the area's most talented players, Brown has been a dangerous player the past two seasons in the Ozark Conference. Now an upperclassman, the 6-foot guard is going to be expected to help turn the Eagles into a winning team.

Michael Collier, Central, jr. - Collier, along with senior Tavian Neal, is new to Central this year after transferring. Collier should score a lot and will fill the wings with his athleticism this year.

Erik Durham, Parkview, sr. - Durham has been a key player in 65 wins over the past three seasons. Toward the end of last season, Durham started establishing himself as one of the region's best and most consistent players. There's no reason to believe that won't continue this year.

A.J. Green, Parkview, sr. - There's little doubt Green will lead the Ozarks in highlight-reel dunks, as he can get out in the open court and get above the rim. Coach Bill Brown said Green put a lot of effort into his game this offseason, which should open things up for Durham.

Darrian Guillory, Neosho, fr. - Sure, he's young, but the 6-foot-2 forward is athletic and can score in a variety of ways for first-year coach Jason Horn.

D.J. Hargrow, Waynesville, sr. - The 5-foot-6 guard is the leader for the Tigers, and, along with some talented young players, could help the team reach new heights.

Chris Kendrix, Willard, jr. - One of the biggest stories of the season will be how Kendrix performs with a new coach in Lamont Frazier and with the burden of expectations to carry a talented team to a good season. There's little doubt the stats will come - he averaged 19.6 points and 8 rebounds a game last season - but the wins need to be there as well.

Andy Lett, Neosho, sr. - The 5-foot-8 point guard will be relied upon to run the offense. Lett can knock down the 3-pointer and has the quickness to get to the basket.

Juwan Morgan, Waynesville, soph. - The 6-foot-6 forward is among the best sophomores in the area and could help coach Chris Pilz take the Tigers to new heights.

Nathan Reichert, Parkview, sr. - The 6-foot-5 senior has good footwork around the basket and is among the most fundamentally sound posts around. Now, with the paint to himself, Reichert could become an impact scorer for coach Bill Brown's team.

Tre Robinson, Central, jr. - The 5-foot-11 guard led the Bulldogs in scoring last season and has improved his ability to get to the basket.

Landon Shelton, Central, sr. - Shelton has the ability to score. Coach Armando Johnson said Shelton should spend lots of time at the free-throw line because of his ability to get to the basket.

Daniel Stokes, Joplin, sr. - Limited by a knee injury last season, Stokes only played in eight games. When healthy, the 6-foot-2 wing is a key ingredient for coach Jeff Williams' team.

Damon Wester, Willard, jr. - Another talented junior for the Tigers, Wester averaged 13.5 points per game last season, scoring in a variety of ways. He's also an aggressive defender and could be a team leader on that side of the floor.